APC Dismisses Opposition Coalition, Calls Ibadan Summit a Ruse

The All Progressives Congress has dismissed the opposition coalition that emerged from last weekend’s Ibadan summit, with APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru calling the entire exercise “a ruse.” His verdict: the gathering of representatives from about ten political parties was not a legitimate meeting of political parties at all.

“The so-called Ibadan summit is a ruse. It was an assemblage of individuals, not ten political parties,” Basiru said. He argued that no recognised party can convene without approval from its National Working Committee or National Executive Committee. “For parties to meet, there must be prior authorisation from their NWC or NEC. Without that, it is simply a gathering of individuals,” he stated.

Basiru questions PDP’s legitimacy to negotiate

Beyond the procedural objection, the APC scribe pointed to the ongoing leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party as evidence that the opposition cannot speak with one voice. “The leadership of the PDP is still being contested, with matters pending before the Supreme Court. On what authority are they meeting?” he asked.

Basiru also highlighted what he called a logical contradiction in the coalition’s reasoning. The same opposition figures who warned that Nigeria was drifting toward one-party rule under the APC are now claiming ten parties met to form a united front. “If they now claim that ten political parties met to gang up against one party, it contradicts their earlier narrative,” he said. “It shows that the political space remains open, but they lack the strength to compete individually.”

Coalition as admission of weakness

The APC chieftain described the coalition idea as “an admission of weakness,” noting that electoral laws recognise only individual parties that must field their own candidates. He predicted the alliance would fracture before long. “I do not see any viable coalition. What I see are individuals driven by personal ambitions. They will soon begin to disagree among themselves,” he said.

Basiru also criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for remarks referencing “Operation Wet e,” calling them irresponsible. “It is irresponsible for a sitting governor to make statements that could be interpreted as inciting,” he said, urging opposition figures to focus on presenting “credible candidates rather than making statements borne out of frustration.”

*Sources: Naija News, Leadership*